Washington Redskins general manager Bruce Allen remains confident that Donovan McNabb can lead the team this season and beyond. (Photo: Associated Press)

With Donovan McNabb under scrutiny, and speculation about his future with the Washington Redskins continuing to swirl, general manager Bruce Allen gave the organization's most definitive endorsement yet, and still expects to work out a contract extension with the five-time Pro Bowl player.

Appearing on TBD TV's SportsTalk with Glenn Harris last night, Allen praised McNabb's leadership skills and said he still sees him remaining in Washington beyond this season when his contract is due to expire.

"Oh I think Donovan McNabb is going to be with us for several years," Allen said. "He's a great leader for our team, he's performing well, I know we're 4-4, but he's helping this team get better each week."

McNabb had said since coming to Washington via trade from Philadelphia in April that he wanted to work out a deal that would keep him in D.C. He has maintained that stance throughout the preseason and regular season.

Doubts over the strength of those desires to remain a Redskin popped up after Mike Shanahan benched him with a minute and 50 seconds left in the Oct. 31 loss to the Detroit Lions and the Redskins trailing by only six points at the time.

Two days later, even after Shanahan gave two different reasons for benching his quarterback -- the first being a lack of a strong knowledge of the two-minute offense, the second, a day later, being poor cardiovascular conditioning and two bad hamstrings -- McNabb maintained that he still wanted to return to Washington next season.

Shanahan said that despite the benching, McNabb remained the Redskins' starter and that he had confidence in him, but reports continued to surface that Mike and Kyle Shanahan were unhappy with McNabb, and that they were considering going in a different direction next season.

Allen's statement squashes that theory, however. Things obviously could change if McNabb's agent and the Redskins aren't able to agree on a dollar figure. But for now, Allen -- who works under the direction of Shanahan -- has every intention of re-signing the quarterback.